The room was dark was except the white glow emanating from my computer monitors. It was just enough for me to notice that Luca had snuck downstairs and curled up in Kim’s computer chair. She watched me type away for a few minutes. Her brothers and sister were already in bed. It was late. She should have been in bed too. But I sensed she wanted some company. I removed my headphones, … [Read more...]
Dear Santa
November 30, 2009 by 4 Comments
The kids wrote letters to Santa tonight. When I commented to Luca how many items she came up with she said, “I underlined the really important stuff”. I’m sure Santa will appreciate that extra bit of flexibility. … [Read more...]
Enjoying Every Minute
November 23, 2009 by 8 Comments
Have you ever found yourself in a situation and thought, “What am I doing here?” Going back nearly twenty years, I asked myself that question the day I woke up in Germany, and it finally hit me that it would be two years before I saw my family and friends. I stared at the ceiling as the sun crept through a small window. I didn’t want to move. Afraid of the unknown and not quite sure how I … [Read more...]
Strength in Few
October 22, 2009 by 1 Comment
Left to their own devices, the kids will turn any room in the house into a blanket and cushion fort. I don’t mind it because it reminds me when I used to the do same thing with my parent’s brown and orange couch. When it was time to pickup, I used to call the kids together to explain how they needed to work together to clean the room. But, over time, I found the kids spent more time debating … [Read more...]
Sisters
September 28, 2009 by 5 Comments
Luca is reserved and structured. She likes order. Dislikes change. She keeps us guessing. Anna is nothing like that. She wears her emotions on the surface. She’s a burst of energy and giggles and smiles. And occasional trouble. Like when she asked a friend from church why he had more hair on his arm than his head. One benefit from having more than one child is seeing how they interact with … [Read more...]
Anna Makes a Call
September 11, 2009 by 2 Comments
My day in the office started out like most. A Diet Coke kept me awake while I made my way through my inbox. Delete. Delete. Forward. Delete. I checked MSNBC to catch up on the latest Republican scandal before running off to a meeting. I emerged two hours later. Mind fried. Too many issues fighting for my attention. I chased three aspirin with another Diet Coke before heading back to my … [Read more...]
The Ride Home From Church
September 9, 2009 by 3 Comments
I can’t wait for the ride home from church. And neither can our kids. Three hours is a long time for the youngsters to sit on a wooden bench listening to adults talk about religious topics and sing strange hymns where the women sing one verse while the men wait around to join in at the end. Who made these rules? When the doors swing open to the parking lot my kids bolt out of the church … [Read more...]
Bike Safety
August 13, 2009 by 6 Comments
I don’t remember how old I was when I learned to ride a bike. But I remember my neighbor pushing me across our front lawn. When I fell off, my Toughskins absorbed the grass stains. Eventually I got the hang of it, and pedaled around the neighborhood looking to take it off any sweet jumps. The only safety precaution I followed was not riding in the street. I had to wait a few more years before … [Read more...]
